November 22, 1767 Tsunami: South China Sea

Reference #414:

1767, November 22, 21:50. Validity 2. A letter sent from Aomen (Macao) to London on November 23, 1767, mentions that on the previous night at 9:50, the residents were struck by a terrible earthquake, which lasted about a minute and took the form of strong rocking. The author of the letter could hardly stay on his feet. The home rocked so severely that it appeared that it would be swallowed up by the earth at any minute, but there were no accidents. The earthquake was accompanied by terrifying sounds. At first the residents thought that these were cannons firing or thunder rumbling in the distance. At 23:05, another shock was felt, but it was not as strong. Still another, rather strong shock was felt at 3:00. In all, five shocks were felt, of which the first was the strongest. Even the oldest residents could not remember such strong and prolonged earthquakes.

A ship in the bay was shaken and spun in all directions, and it seemed to those on board that a hurricane had sprung up. But the wind was light.

[In Berninghausen's opinion, which is shared by Cox, this and the description of the event in 1765 end of May relate to the same incident.]

Reference #40:

1765, November 22. Macao (22o12'N., 113o'33'E.). Local shock, the ships in the harbor shook and whirled about, and those on board imagined at first that it had been a whirlwind, (DeVisme 1809).

(Possibly the same as 1765 May.)

Reference #1879:

1767, November 22. Macao in China. A trembling motion which lasted about a minute. Followed by a second, of less violence at 11h 5m, and by a third and pretty strong one at 3 a.m. on the 23rd. Altogether five shocks were reckoned, of which the first was the most violent. The ships lying in the harbour experienced motion. The first shock was strong enough to shake a house violently. A rolling noise and heavy gusts of wind were observed.

Reference #150:

1767, November 22, validity 0. S. China. No quake report.